SOME TWO-COMPONENT BETA DECAY MEASUREMENTS
Abstract
The shorter half-life of a two-component beta decay was determined. Natural silver was activated with thermal neutrons to produce isotopes Ag108 and Ag110. The shorter half-life decay (that of Ag110) was isolated from that of Ag108 by measuring the decay of only the higher energy betas associated with Ag110. Because of a large portion of the energy spectrum was excluded, pile-up corrections were necessary. The half-life was also determined using the more conventional two-component method. The single-component method yielded a half- life of 23.26 plus or minus .03 seconds compared with 23.43 plus or minus .04 seconds determined by the two-component method. (Only statistical uncertainties are shown above). The techniques used for making pile-up corrections are described, and systematic errors are discussed. This investigation indicates that accurate half-life determinations can be obtained with the single-component method.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0832197
Entities
People
- Clark T. Ballard Jr.
- James R. Tickenor Iii
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School